Best move for a gunny: WA, OR or CO? Why?

A Washington CPL is a bit cheaper to obtain than Oregon and there is no training requirement in Washington like there is in Oregon. Washington has stronger state preemption law than Oregon does. Because of WA's strong preemption law, the WA State Supreme Court has ruled Seattle to pack sand on their gun regulations attempts.

That is probably all negated by the fact the Oregon has no sales tax. Although Oregon does have a personal income tax but Washington does not.

If you don't like pumping gas, move to Oregon, it's illegal to pump your own gas there.

Navy pretty much nailed it. Oregun has a happy/fun switch, Warshington don't-

Not sure about OR and CO but WA does have the mandatory pistol transfer form for all handgun purchases. Is that de facto handgun registration? I think it is but it is the law here, love it or leave it I guess.

The Oregon preemption laws are strong, but only for permit holders. Local governments can ban open carry, for instance, unless you have a permit.

We have a number of people in positions of power in the legislature, like Pink Floyd, who are rabidly anti-gun. So you'd also want to look at what the future looks like in each state.

None of the above. Check out Texas. No state income tax, good economic conditions, gun-friendly political situation.

Hot in the summer, but good Tex-Mex food and good beer.

Also, WA registration doesn't apply to FTF private sales... so investing in a Washington Arms Collectors membership is useful for facilitating that.

Beware of Kline in WA Senate Judiciary... his idea of "give and take" is "you give, I take" and his idea of compromise is "I don't TAKE quite as much as I want". Unfortunately, the only way to get him out of that Chairmanship is for him to be primaried... and knowing his District it'd have to be by someone even MORE radical.

MAJ Mike said:

Texas. gun-friendly political situation.

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Right. Where you must pay for the state's permission to carry a handgun on your person in public for self defense, and then only if you hide it like an evil object? That is a gun-friendly political situation?

Diamondback6 said:

so investing in a Washington Arms Collectors membership is useful for facilitating that.

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This is why I won't contribute a dime to the Washington Arms Collectors:
http://www.washingtonarmscollectors.org/

WAC puts on one of the largest gun shows in Washington State. You can and SHOULD become a member of WAC. Only members can buy and sell guns at our shows. Only members may carry firearms into the venue.

The WAC is based on the principles set forth by the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution which states that every free citizen has the right to keep and bear arms.

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Two statements directly contradicting each other right on their opening web page.

It's called "Liability Insurance"--and even members can't have loaded iron inside. The idea on the "must be a member to buy or sell" is that that way we all know we've passed the background check and thus have some confidence we won't be dealing with individuals prohibited from possessing a firearm...

Spent 8 years in Colorado, now about a year in Washington state.

Colorado was great, but Denver has restrictions on high capacity magazines and assault weapons. Outside of Denver, it's typically pro gun and pro CCW. Shall issue state. However, a few years ago they closed the 'gun show loophole' and that ticks me off. It's not as pro-gun as it once was... So in the last 10 years, they added CCW, but subtracted with the gun show loophole closure...

Washington seems great. Very easy to get a CCW permit and reciprocal with most states. Private sales are simple. The only issue I see is that if you buy a gun online and it goes through an FFL you have to pay tax. Other than that, WA is great.

As a member of the Wash Arms Collectors (WAC) - I can say that I was VERY annoyed with having to complete their membership application and pay their fee at first. I did NOT like it. But if you go to many shows it pays for itself because you gain free entry, it is sort of a 'good guy' card when dealing with others who buy/sell in/around the area and is required at shows. So, all in all, I've been to open public shows where I paid my $10 and didn't have much confidence in who I was dealing with, and I've been to the WAC shows and I prefer the WAC card when dealing with others.

If I were to move I would seriously consider Utah. Probably the best state to live in! Pro gun, skiing, beautiful summers, 4 national parks, low crime...

Wyoming. The U. S. Constitution is your permit to carry.

I left Indiana for AZ 5 years ago, now I'm in Oregon, dying to get back to Indiana. If I was you i'd just move one state over. I hate the west with a passion. There are a few people, but for the most part I only run into weirdo's. I'm ready to get back to breaded tenderloins, whitetails, affordable property so I can shoot on my own ground, and nobody ever bothered me about guns in Indiana. I carried everywhere in Indiana. When I needed to posses a CCW I believe it was 40 dollars. Since then I no longer need one so I dont know the current rules. I dont plan on needing another CCW for life unless they take away LEOSA. I would look hard at every aspect of the west before you leave the midwest. 250k in Indiana got me a lot of living, acres of land, a lake, and a nice house. 250k in Oregon is like a modular home on 2 acres that is in the middle of a flood plane, I picked up a cow for a friend in Washington and the guy there had a ranch style home on 6 acres built around the 70s the guy said he had it on the market for 800k. Its ridiculous out here. No sales tax in OR, so everything costs 10% more so you feel good inside about not paying the tax, but the retailer jacks the price up to cover their heavy tax's to make more revenue. Man I miss the midwest.

I hate the west with a passion. There are a few people, but for the most part I only run into weirdo's.

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That's a hazard on the west coast we're not as well indoctri- ... workig stif- ... corpor- ... uh ... not like the east coast.

As for between Oregon and Washington, I am mildly biased of course, but depending on where you go in OR you can experience all kinds of variations in your perceived freedoms. So Eastern OR is a lot different from say, the Willamette Valley, which is different from Portland, which is different from Eugene, which is different from the coast, etc.
I am entirely unsure whether WA has nearly that kind of social as well as weather or cultural or legal variation.

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Hate to say this, but I'm sad to hear a LEO talk like this about the people he's enforcing the law on. I would like to see you at least try and integrate. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, no?

Oregon - non reciprocal CCW. Not even sure if it's easy to get a permit. No thanks. Beautiful state though.

Are the CA anti-gun migrants messing up one state...

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In regards to Colorado... ABSOLUTELY. But it has less to do with gun issues, although they are getting in the way of those issues as well.

Wyoming. The U. S. Constitution is your permit to carry.

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Unless you are a resident of another state; in that case, pay fee / take class / jump through hoops / wait your turn / prove you are not a criminal / hope for the best / don't pass go / don't collect $200.

Yeah, the CA people that have moved to CO are trying to create the same mess that made them leave CA, however, CO is still a great place to live.

Even after shooting for over 30 years, and having a CCW permit from another state I did have to take a gun course to apply for my permit in CO when I moved there. I actually liked the course, and instructor so took an advanced course with him.

Less about politics and more about comparative laws, okay?

I just moved to Seattle from Southern Missouri. Biggest difference I have discovered is that they tax out of state transfers. If you win an auction in another state and have it shipped to a WA FFL, they must have an invoice for it and are required to collect a "use tax" of 9.5%. Doesn't matter of it is used or new.
They also don't allow concealed carry in a vehicle without a permit.

booneroo said:

I just moved to Seattle from Southern Missouri. Biggest difference I have discovered is that they tax out of state transfers. If you win an auction in another state and have it shipped to a WA FFL, they must have an invoice for it and are required to collect a "use tax" of 9.5%. Doesn't matter of it is used or new.

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Missouri had exactly the same tax. It's called a use tax - equivelant to the rate of sales tax:

http://dor.mo.gov/business/sales/#use

The only difference is that Missouri did not require FFLs to collect the tax, they placed the legal burden of paying the tax upon the consumer. You did pay your proper use taxes, right? Otherwise you violated Missouri state law.

Washington waives sales tax on gun safes.

booneroo said:

They also don't allow concealed carry in a vehicle without a permit.

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In Washington without a CPL: loaded firearms are prohibited anywhere inside a vehicle. Unloaded firearms may be anywhere in the vehicle other than concealed on the person. Loaded magazines can be anywhere in the vehicle/on the person except inserted in the gun. Fully loaded open carry is legal without a CPL outside the vehicle.

With a CPL, a loaded handgun may be anywhere inside the vehicle, including concealed on the person. No loaded rifles in vehicles due to hunting regulations.

leadcounsel said:

Oregon - non reciprocal CCW. Not even sure if it's easy to get a permit. No thanks. Beautiful state though.

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Oregon is shall issue for residents. It requires 3 non-relatives to sign as character witnesses. Training is required, but only for firearm safety.

It is may issue for non-residents, I believe they are supposed to be from a bordering state. Ease of acquisition would depend on the sheriff.

Oregon recognizes no other permits. There have been attempts to get reciprocity, but they get blocked or "gutted and stuffed" by Floyd and his buddies.

If we could cede Multnomah county to the state of Washington, we'd be doing a lot better.

WA accepts others states CWP. Oregon does not. Oregon will not accept and CWP from another state. Places in OR require a letter from two other persons that state they trust you to have a gun? Classes too. WTH? WA fill out form sign and printed an pay $50ish and your done. Renewal was $35 for 5years.
http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/firearms/faconcealrenew.html
http://licenseinfo.oregon.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=license_seng&link_item_id=14705
Both will allow suppressors. Avoid Seattle or Portland or the west side of either as the I-5 corridor is very anti gun and these states vote nutty. No sales tax in Or. Property taxes high in both compared to Idaho. WA no charge background checks for gun purchases, Or is $10 per transaction. Both states have open carry in certain areas. More WalMarts sell gun still in WA. Roads in WA are better and the drivers in WA are better. Oregon does not spend taxes wisely, but does any state? WA has a ridiculous thing called a discovery pass you have to buy to access certain public lands, mostly on the coast side. If your not addicted to the rain and need the ocean areas, avoid both. I would pick ID or MT. Don't know alot about CO, but maybe NV or WY are good too. Gunny and WA/OR really are not that compatible. These two states have gone down hill. even in the last even 5 years they have gotten worse. There are reasons we are unloading and selling off practically ALL or our WA and OR places family wide as we seek freedom and liberty and jobs.... OR/Portland has less jobs than WA. Especially "good" jobs.
All in all it depends on where your coming from if these are better than where your from, but I would avoid both. FYI! If you were already here I would say move to WA NOT OR. If your new to both, DON'T. WA has sales tax on non-food, Food is "not taxed" East side of state it is lower?
I could go on, PM if you wanna know more. Have and do live in both depending on time of year, like I said leaving both permanently. After well over 40 years they are going down hill...quickly now! If your coming here to escape the cr@p, your not really doing so. If your retired and don't need to work go to MT or Idaho and live(well) and vacation in WA and OR as you can leave when you please!
The only positive about Oregon is No Sales Tax, but you can live across the boarder of a neighboring state and take advantage of that and be better off.
Also OR has stupid fire work laws...no good fire works period! Snakes, smoke bombs and sparklers are about it!

My wife and I are ready to leave IL sometime in the near future.

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Good for you! I predict you're going to love living in America.

The only difference is that Missouri did not require FFLs to collect the tax, they placed the legal burden of paying the tax upon the consumer. You did pay your proper use taxes, right? Otherwise you violated Missouri state law.

Perhaps, But by the way I read the regs, it's only required if you purchase more than $2k/year.

forestdavegump said:

Both states have open carry in certain areas.

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Open carry is lawful in all areas of WA, other than the places (taverns, courts, etc) where it's not.

Also OR has stupid fire work laws...no good fire works period! Snakes, smoke bombs and sparklers are about it!

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WA isn't far behind then on fireworks. If you want the fun stuff, go to the reservation. Don't get caught.

Not sure if you're open to other states, but Arizona is probably the best, if not one of the top few great gun states. No CCW permits required, open carry is always allowed, LEOs are well versed in our laws, just recently no limits on magazine size while hunting, and we're also possibly approaching approval for suppressed hunting.